Our Team

Janet Burnett Cowie

General Manager

Janet oversees our Outfitters Shop and instruction programs including whitewater kayaking, canoeing, and rock climbing. She is also our logistics guru for food services and vehicles. Since 1996, Janet’s people skills and expertise have helped grow our paddling school into one of the premier kayak programs in the country. Janet has been whitewater paddling since 1983 when she joined the University of Massachusetts Outing Club.

Janet is an ACA Level 4 Whitewater Kayak Instructor-Trainer Educator, Level 4 River Canoe Instructor/Level 3 River Canoe Instructor Trainer and Advanced Swiftwater Rescue Instructor. In 2011 Janet received ACA’s Excellence in Instruction Award. She helped to organize the first Whitewater Symposium at Zoar Outdoor in 2003 and again in 2009, and continues to be involved with the Whitewater Symposium movement. She received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts.

Meghan Ecclesine

Zip Line Canopy Tour Manager

Meghan has years of experience working in customer service and the outdoor industry. She kickstarted her outdoorsy experience here at Zoar in 2009 and is a grad of the Outdoor Leadership Program at GCC. In Meghan’s spare time, she enjoys canoeing, hiking, doodling, snowboarding and traveling. Swing by our Zip base. Meghan will be excited to meet you!

Jacqui Proctor

Sales and Marketing Manager

Jacqui comes from years of sales and marketing experience from working in the art world. She is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, but quickly fell in love with Western Massachusetts. In her spare time, she loves creating artwork, strumming away on her Ukulele, playing outside. Jacqui also loves taking on the class III and IV rapids on our Dryway trip! Give our office a call, there’s a high percentage you’ll speak with Jacqui and she’s always up to help you plan your next adventure!

Brian Pytko

Director of Rafting Programs

A former high school social studies teacher and baseball coach, Brian started rafting with Zoar Outdoor back in 2000, and took over the Rafting Manager responsibilities in 2009. Forever a teacher at heart, Brian oversees new guide training and development, is an ACA swift water rescue instructor, and even does a little snowboard instructing during the off-season. Brian’s Wilderness First Responder Certification, intuitive river sense, dedication to customer service, and uncanny attention to detail ensures that Zoar’s rafting trips and guided kayaking trips run smoothly and safely.

Jim Sullivan

Director of Paddlesports

Jim has been paddling the rivers of New England since learning to kayak as a teen near Springfield, Massachusetts. He is an avid river runner, playboater and all around paddler and has run every rapid on the Dryway on a standup paddleboard (upright) at least once! He works closely with Janet Cowie providing leadership in our Paddlesports programs.

Davis Britland

Rafting Manager

Davis got his first taste of whitewater here at Zoar Outdoor back in 2017. He’s been here since, entertaining guests in both the trees and on the river. He’s rafted all over New England and is constantly looking for new rivers to explore. Whether it’s careening down a mountain on a snowboard in the winter months or peddling back up on a mountain bike when it’s warmer, you can usually find him enjoying the outdoors with his friends.